Cricket World Cup: In 2007, US lobbied hard to host matches but lost

Bengaluru, Jan 18: In 2007, The West Indies hosted the cricketWorld Cup for the first time. But do we know that the United States contingent had lobbied hard for matches of the tournament to be held in its newly built cricket ground in Lauderhill, Florida.

In 2004, a champagne cocktail party was held at the City Hall to mark the next step in Lauderhill's bid to host a match of the quadrennial tournament in 2007.

Broward County Mayor Ilene Lieberman and County Commissioner Josheph Eggelletion gave the city an official World Cup bid book after the party.

The city officials wrote to the ICC indicating their interest in hosting a World Cup match in the cricket-loving city.

Lauderhill was named the official US contender to host a World Cup 2007 match in December 2003. The city, however, lost the bid to hold a match of the prestigious tournament.

In October 2005, Lauderhill Mayor Richard Kaplan made the first edition of a new magazine named American Cricketer. The city was still showing its passion for the game as annual and weekly cricket matches were being held across it.

South Florida is known for its cricket craze, thanks to a strong presence of immigrants from former British colonies in the West Indies.

Around 2007 the ICC suspended the USACA (USA Cricket Association), which oversees the game in that country, for it said the organisation had failed to adopt a new constitution or held elections within the deadline.

The necessary changes were made in April 2008 under the supervision of the West Indies Cricket Board and the US board returned to the ICC's fold.